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Alyssa Luck

Alyssa Luck

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Functional Orthodontics & Orthotropics

Update March 2022: This page is quite out of date, as I’ve been focusing on other projects. For the latest in my own progress, see my YouTube channel. As for everything else, I hope to one day expand and update this page, but for now, proceed with the disclaimer that it is out of date and not anywhere close to comprehensive.

If you’re trying to learn more about functional/epigenetic orthodontics and orthotropics, including topics like palate expansion, maxilla advancement/facial growth, and proper tongue posture…you’re in the right place!

This page will be an ongoing effort to compile and organize information on these topics. Because a functional approach to orthodontics and dentistry is still relatively “fringe,” especially in adults, it can be difficult to wade through the various forum threads and Youtube videos and anecdotes and websites (sketchy or otherwise) that are out there, and impossible to know what information to trust. I hope that by putting all the information in one place, it’ll make it easier for you to navigate and learn so you can draw your own conclusions.

Important: I’m no authority on these topics, and have no dental/orthodontic/medical training, so nothing on this website should be taken as medical advice. Also, the inclusion of something on this page does not mean I like it, have experience with it, or otherwise endorse it – I’m just putting it all out there for you guys to explore.

So, to that end…if you know of any good resources that I’m missing, leave a comment and I’ll be sure to add it! This is definitely still a work in progress, and I expect to add many more links and tidbits over the coming months.

My Resources

These are pages I’ve put together as guides for specific functional orthodontic/orthotropic topics. I’d like to reiterate that I am NOT trained as a dentist or orthodontist, and am not an authority on these topics.

My goal is simply to make it easier to navigate other people’s thoughts/opinions, present information in a thorough and unbiased way, and promote a productive dialogue by offering theories or raising questions. All these pages will be continually updated as necessary!

  • Everything You Need to Know about AGGA (Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance)
  • Everything You Need to Know About Mewing (but not really; lots of other people on the internet have done a FAR more thorough job than I have! I hope to flesh this page out with more links/resources eventually.)

My Experience

The following posts document my own experience with palate expansion and facepulling as an adult (24 years old when I began in early 2018). Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster.

  • Adult Palate Expansion Diary: Introduction
  • Adult Palate Expansion Diary #1
  • Adult Palate Expansion Diary #2
  • APE Diary #3: Gaps Achieved!
  • APE Diary #4: Discovering Dr. Brad Lockhart
  • APE Diary #5: My Consult with Dr. Brad Lockhart
  • The DNA Appliance Has Arrived! (APE Diary #6)
  • 5-Month Palate Expansion Progress Photos
  • Palate Expansion Update: Concerning CBCT Scan Results
  • A Non-Update Update
  • Why I Decided to Try AGGA (plus some lingering concerns)
  • 9-month AGGA update
  • Video: AGGA update, pandemic edition
  • Review: The Crane Reverse-Pull Headgear
  • Video: Why I chose AGGA over mewing alone
  • Video: Controlled-arch braces day 2 report – lisp city
  • Video: Is AGGA dangerous? My thoughts on tooth instability and bone loss
  • AGGA Before & After – 10mm Expansion
  • Controlled Arch Braces: 5 Month Update
  • Controlled arch braces progress + timeline update
  • AGGA/Controlled Arch Braces Progress Update (9 months in braces, 22 months total)
  • AGGA/Controlled Arch Braces Progress Update (12 months in braces, 25 months total)
  • AGGA/Controlled Arch Braces Progress Update (13 months in braces, 26 months total)
  • CBCT Results: An Update on Implants [AGGA/CAB Update]
  • Quitting Controlled-Arch Braces [AGGA 2.5-year update]

Blogs

These are all personal blogs (like this one!) of others who have documented their journeys and experiments (in no particular order).

Ronald Ead
Probably one of the most well-known characters in the palate expansion realm, first for his all-in praise of the Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (AGGA) (which he undertook to improve his neck posture and help with chronic migraines), then for his dramatic about-face on the topic, as he’s now probably the most outspoken AGGA detractor. His most recent experiments have been with MSE. He documented all his experiences very thoroughly, including his failed attempt (very similar to mine!) at expansion with a more traditional three-way acrylic expander, so this is a great resource.

Claiming Power
The OG. Or at least, the first resource I came across when I started learning about all this stuff several years ago. Last I checked, you had to be a paid member to access much of his content, but he still had some stuff up for free.

Aljabri.com
This looks like a relatively new blog by someone who has improved their health through posture/orthodontic treatments. I’ll be interested to see what they post in the coming months!

Ry’s Dental Journey
Experience with the Vivos DNA Appliance, reverse-pull headgear, etc.

Facial Growth Orthodontics with Daniel
Not really a personal blog, but a lengthy patient testimonial/blog on the website of a practitioner in Missouri. Great documentation of his experience with AGGA though!

Scott Gets Mouthy
Using the Vivos DNA Appliance, primarily to treat sleep apnea.

DNA Smiles
Results with the DNA Appliance – last post was in 2015, but really impressive B&A photos!

My Experience with the DNA Appliance (not mine; that’s just the title of the blog!)
Rick’s experience with the DNA; last post was in 2013

Health Matters to Me
Experience with the Homeoblock.

Reverse Dental
Michael’s (38 yo) experience using upper and lower “bicuspid opener” expanders to reverse extraction/retraction orthodontics.

Orgone Energy
Kevin’s experience using Homeoblock and NCR to solve health problems from extraction/retraction orthodontics (plus a bunch of other unrelated stuff, so I linked to the “Orthodontics” category instead of the blog home page).

Forums/Other Websites

Some of these look extra sketchy, and everyone knows you can’t trust people on internet forums, but nonetheless, I’ve learned some very helpful things from these sites. (Again, in no particular order.)

Break the Matrix
This is a forum dedicated to discussing NCR, facepulling, and similar topics. Mike Mew and Ian Hedley even make appearances in some threads!

The Great Work
From what I can gather, this is sort of part personal blog, part forum, part informational website.

r/Orthotropics
A subreddit dedicated to discussing mewing and other topics in orthotropics.

Orthotropics.com
I think this is Mike Mew’s website, or at least one he’s affiliated with.

Facepulling.com
Anonymous facepuller’s website.

Facebook Groups

  • The Craniofacial Action Group (Mike Mew’s group)
  • TMJ/TMD/CMD/OSA Physiologic Discussion Group (an LVI affiliated group)
  • Myofunctional Orthodontics

Palate Expansion

This is a list of devices I’ve heard of being used for palate expansion in adults. Where possible, I’ve linked to other websites/resources where you can learn more about them, or at least read about others’ experience using them.

  • AGGA (Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance)
  • Vivos DNA Appliance
  • Homeoblock
  • Biobloc
  • Meridian Appliance (knockoff DNA appliance; this is what I used)
  • MARPE (micro-implant assisted rapid palatal expander)
  • ALF (here’s a pretty big thread about ALF on a random forum)
  • Damon braces
  • basic removable lateral acrylic expander (like what I started with)
  • figure-8 cemented expander
  • “bicuspid opener” (per this blog)

Face Pulling (non-surgical maxillary advancement)

This is a list of devices/techniques I’ve heard of being used for non-surgical maxillary advancement/”face pulling” in adults.

  • facemask (standard reverse-pull headgear; my experience here)
  • the Crane
  • BOW
  • DIY hockey helmet approach
  • AGGA (this fits in both categories, because it supposedly expands the maxilla forward by putting pressure on a specific spot in the upper palate)
  • mouthguard & shoelace method (not kidding – see Walrus’ posts on this forum page)
  • Mew Vector (Mike Mew’s custom headgear; youtube video here)
  • Facemax (superseded by CROME/CROM-face)
  • Crome
  • RAMPA

Other Related Therapies

Pretty much just that. Other related therapies that don’t fit the above categories, but that I’ve seen people use or recommend to achieve some of the same goals.

  • Mewing
  • NCR (Neurocranial Restructuring; basically inflating a balloon deep inside your nasal cavity to prompt beneficial remodeling of the cranial bones)
    • Ian Hedley
    • A patient/trainee of Dr. Dean Howell
  • Starecta (uses an oral appliance to improve whole-body posture)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Xavier says

    February 23, 2019 at 3:43 pm

    Hi Alyssa, great post. I was wondering if maybe you would be interested in linking to my well-sourced, detailed guide (https://jawlineexercises.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mewing/) on proper tongue posture (i.e. ‘mewing’) to your post? I think it would really help your readers.

    Just a suggestion, thanks for writing this!

    Reply
    • Alyssa Luck says

      March 5, 2019 at 4:05 pm

      Hey Xavier! Sweet, yes, that looks like an awesome guide! Will add it to the list of links now. Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Xavier says

        March 6, 2019 at 5:29 pm

        Awesome, thanks! 🙂

        Reply
  2. Sebastian says

    April 10, 2019 at 7:14 pm

    Hey Alyssa, great blog about orthodontics /orthotropics. This is a subject i’m also intersted in. Mainly because I have a bite that is a little off and is causing tmj problems, and I just want to get rid of jaw sores ( I hope I finally dare to get it finally fixed).On the other hand, the effects of a better functioning airway sytem in the face is per definition interesting. I did al lot of research and your blog gave me some new insights. Althought, pesronally I suppose Marpe treatments have the biggest change of succes in adult treatment, I have seen some good treatments of adult expansion online. I am sory to hear you are on your third round of orthodontics and still haven’t reached much process. But, I think you should have more trust in orthodontics in general, then you have now. I wish you best of luck in further search to a healthy bite!

    Reply
    • Alyssa Luck says

      April 11, 2019 at 11:00 am

      Thanks Sebastian! It’s definitely a work in progress. Where have you found most of your info so far while exploring this topic?

      Yes, I agree that MARPE does seem promising for adults, and there’s actually published research on it, which is refreshing. However, from what I’ve seen (and correct me if I’m wrong!), they only do lateral expansion that way – not forward expansion. So I imagine MARPE would be great for someone who primarily needs more lateral space! Thanks for the well wishes 🙂

      Reply
      • Sebastian says

        April 17, 2019 at 5:04 pm

        There seems to occur only minor anterposterior expansion(so both forward and backwards) with rapid palatal expansion from what I’ve read. That is the type of expansion also used in marpe. Thats the reason its sometimes combined with a facemas in order to create more forward expansion.
        Just read your article about AGGA, that looks in that case more promising. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find public research on that device.

        Most info I found is from reasearchgate, ncbi, various blogs/vlogs and forums.

        Reply
  3. Mark says

    September 25, 2020 at 5:31 am

    If possible, please update us with your progress for 2020.

    By the way, I’m sure you know that Ronald Ead has since abandoned and then denounced his AGGA treatment to the dismay of many pro-AGGAists and is doing MSE which is a version of MARPE [https://www.greatlakesdentaltech.com/mse-maxillary-skeletal-expander.html].

    Any thoughts on this?

    Reply
    • Alyssa Luck says

      September 28, 2020 at 2:40 pm

      Hi Mark – I’ve published several posts and videos on my progress in 2020! You should see them as the most recent posts on my home page, as well as linked on this page.

      And yes, I am aware! He actually reached out to me personally to caution me against continuing with AGGA/CAB. My thoughts on that are fairly well summed up in my video “Is AGGA dangerous?”, as well as comments I’ve left on that video and recent blog posts. But in short – AGGA is not without risks, and it’s certainly not a holy grail miracle treatment that’s a good choice for everyone (or even most people), but Ron’s decision and experience has not changed my plans.

      Reply
  4. Simge says

    January 5, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    Hi Alyssa! Thank you for the wonderful post! Have you considered surgery? What are the reasons you prefer other methods over surgery?

    Reply
    • Alyssa Luck says

      January 6, 2021 at 3:14 pm

      Hi Simge! To be honest, I haven’t really considered surgery. I don’t know too much about it, so I can’t even say it was an extremely informed decision, but in general – I would be worried about the potential for serious complications/bad outcomes (however small that risk may be). I guess I also just prefer the idea of guiding/encouraging natural growth vs. forcing a structure that the body doesn’t get a say in, partially because I think it’s extremely important to improve function (i.e. tongue and other face muscle habits) and not just impose a structure that isn’t supported by the musculature. All that to say – I’m not necessarily opposed to surgery on principle, but it isn’t something I would consider for myself.

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Alyssa. I like thunderstorms and cats, hate wearing shoes, and enjoy devising extensive research projects for myself in my free time. This is me in Bali with a monkey on my shoulder. And this is my blog, where I muse about health-related topics and document my relentless self-guinea pigging. If you want to know more about me, click here!

alyssa.luck

alyssa.luck
Photo dump from the last year. Thanks to everyone Photo dump from the last year. Thanks to everyone who made 28 the best yet - excited for 29🥰

(PS. In case anyone wants to know what it’s like in my head, I was going to write something like “year 28” or “my 28th year” but then I realized that the year between your 28th and 29th birthdays is not your 28th year of life, it’s your 29th year. I am turning 29 because I have been alive for 29 years. So then I had a whole thing about how to word it without being inaccurate and ended up going with what you see above which is vague and weird but the point is it was a good year and I love all the people in my life dearly)
Biology of Belief (2005) was written by Bruce Lipt Biology of Belief (2005) was written by Bruce Lipton, who earned a PhD in developmental biology in 1971 and was an anatomy professor and academic researcher in the 70s and 80s. Despite the book's presentation and Lipton's background, this is not a science book. It is an exposition of an ideology, supported by haphazard and poorly contextualized nuggets of evidence, rhetorical leaps, and a mind-boggling overuse of analogies. 

The book largely failed to deliver on its promised content. What it does is argue for the primacy of the environment over DNA in controlling life; propose that the cell membrane rather than the nucleus is the "brain" of the cell; invoke quantum physics to explain why modern medicine fails; explain that our behavior is largely controlled by our subconscious mind; inform parents that they therefore have a great deal of control over the destiny of their children; and conclude that humans must become nonviolent protectors of the environment and of humanity because Everything Is Connected.

It’s not that these points aren’t relevant to the topic at hand - they are. But they were not connected in a coherent way that would explain how “belief” actually works (like…biologically), and the treatment of scientific concepts throughout was careless, or perhaps disingenuous.

I think he's correct about many things, some of them being common knowledge. For instance, the "new" science of epigenetics is now old news, as is the critical role of parenting and early environment in shaping a child’s future. But however important these and attendant concepts may be, the book did not do a good job explaining, supporting, or connecting them. 

As far as practical guidance, he refers the reader to a list of resources on his website, which is fine, but I expected some scientific insight into how/why those modalities work. None was given. 

On the plus side, the book was quite thought-provoking, and I came away with loads of references and topics to follow up on. My favorite line? "There cannot be exceptions to a theory; exceptions simply mean that a theory is not fully correct."
Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science (section 382) Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science (section 382), as quoted in the introduction to Thus Spoke Zarathustra because I like the translation better.
This paper totally changed the way I think about e This paper totally changed the way I think about early nervous system development and the relationship between physiology and sociality. 

The authors propose that newborn babies are not inherently social, and have just one goal in life: physiological homeostasis. I.e. staying alive. This means nutrients, warmth, and regulation of breath and heart rate, i.e. autonomic arousal (it’s well-accepted that newborns sync their breathing and heart rate with caregivers through skin to skin contact). 

All these things are traditionally provided by a loving caregiver. So what the baby experiences during the first weeks of life, over and over, is a shift from physiological perturbation to homeostasis (a highly rewarding event inherently) REPEATEDLY PAIRED with things like the sound of a caregiver’s voice and seeing their face. Thus, over time, the face/voice stimuli become rewarding as well. 

The authors argue that THIS is the beginning of humans’ wiring for sociality, and may explain why loving social interactions can have such a profound regulating effect on physiology throughout life: because the brain was trained for it at an early age. 

This framework holds all kinds of fascinating implications for what happens if that initial “training” isn’t so ideal. What if the return to nutritional homeostasis via feeding is paired with negative expressions and vocalizations rather than loving ones, perhaps as could occur with PPD? What happens if the caregiver has poor autonomic regulation, such that social stimuli become paired with cardiorespiratory overexcitement in the baby? Could that have potential for influencing later introversion vs extroversion? (Because if social interaction is paired with autonomic overexcitement, that could lead to social interaction literally being more energetically draining, which is what introverts experience. Thoughts?)

For my energy metabolism enthusiasts: Table 1 in the paper draws a link between metabolic rate and sociality across species. Swipe for a screenshot. 

Anyway, check out the paper! It’s free, just google “growing a social brain pdf.”
I’ll be under general anesthesia in a couple day I’ll be under general anesthesia in a couple days to have two tooth implants placed, and I think I’ll take the opportunity to have a little heart-to-heart with my subconscious mind. A bit of medically-assisted self-hypnosis, if you will. 

I randomly stumbled upon these papers a couple months ago - an RCT showing reduced post-op pain in patients who listened to recorded positive messages while under general anesthesia, plus a post-hoc analysis of the same data that found reduced post-op nausea and vomiting in a subset of high-risk patients. 

The full review paper from the first slide is unfortunately in German, but it has long been recognized that even when unconscious, the patient is listening (for better or for worse). 

It boggles my mind that it isn’t standard of care to have patients listen to recordings like this while under sedation, considering that almost nothing could be easier, safer, or cheaper, and we have at least some evidence of significant efficacy. I mean c’mon, what more could you want from an intervention? 

(Yeah, I know. Profit. If anyone still thinks that our medical system operates with patient well-being as the foremost goal, you’re deluding yourself.)

“There should be a fundamental change in the way patients are treated in the operating room and intensive care unit, and background noise and careless conversations should be eliminated.”

“Perhaps it is now time to finally heed this call and to use communication with unconscious patients that goes beyond the most necessary announcement of interventions and is therapeutically effective through positive suggestions. When in doubt, assume that the patient is listening.”
If you've seen "vagus nerve exercises" that have y If you've seen "vagus nerve exercises" that have you moving your eyes or tilting your head, you've probably encountered the work of Stanley Rosenberg. The exercises he created and introduced in his 2017 book now appear in instructional videos all over the internet. 
 
The book itself has much to recommend it: it's accessible, it's practical, it's inspiring. But it has one major flaw: the solid practical and informational content regarding the cranial nerves is framed in terms of the scientifically dubious polyvagal theory. 
 
I particularly enjoyed the book as an introduction to the therapeutic arena of bodywork, of which Rosenberg is a skilled practitioner. His book is full of case reports that demonstrate how immensely powerful extremely subtle movements and physical manipulations can be. These do need to be kept in perspective: it's a small sample size of the most remarkable cases, and the results were achieved within the supportive clinical environment of a skilled practitioner. You can tell from his descriptions how refined his technique is. But nevertheless, it was a paradigm-shifting read for me, and the exercises give you something concrete to play around with. 
 
The book also brought the cranial nerves and the concept of “social engagement” to the fore as arbiters of health. Rosenberg has a solid background in cranial nerve anatomy and shares many interesting tidbits and considerations that you don’t typically hear; for instance, the potential impact of dental and orthodontic work on cranial nerve function.
 
So, is it worth reading? If any of the above piques your interest, go for it! Just read my post on polyvagal theory first – you can use the book to practice separating the wheat (solid informational content) from the chaff (pseudoscientific framing). If nothing else, the book is a nice reminder that genuine healers who get lasting results for their patients do exist.

But if you just want to try the exercises, you can easily find them all on YouTube. 

“You learn techniques to understand principles. When you understand the principles, you will create your own techniques.” -Stanley Rosenberg
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